Alice in Wonderland (6/1/2010)

Rated PG for fantasy action/violence involving scary images and situations, and for a smoking caterpillar.

Directed by Tim Burton (Batman, Edward Scissorhands, Sweeney Todd)

Starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Mia Wasikowska and Anne Hathaway

JONATHAN'S WORD: If this film is one of Alic's dreams…I wish someone would have woken me up!

TODD'S WORD: Tim Burton plus Johnny Depp usually equals weird…and believe me Alice in Wonderland is pretty weird.

JONATHAN'S WORD: Weird is an understatement. But I’m probably not the best person to review this film because I don’t come to it unbiased: I wasn’t a fan of the old Disney cartoon, I’m not a fan of the director Tim Burton, and most of the actors in this new film usually leave a sour taste in my mouth. But setting all that aside, I tried to give the film a fair chance at winning my approval.

I failed miserably.

I was bored outta my mind!

TODD'S WORD: I wouldn’t go that far. It was nice to at least see a fresh storyline.

In this particular version of the story, Alice (Mia Wasikowska) is not the bored little girl eager to visit a place filled with magic and mystery. Instead, she’s a disgruntled Victorian 19-year-old who is desperate to break free of the strict societal mandates being placed on her.

JONATHAN'S WORD: I actually enjoyed that much of the film. Too bad it only lasted for about 10 minutes.

TODD'S WORD: While attending her own “surprise” engagement party Alice catches a glimpse of a rabbit in a waistcoat – similar to one in her recurring dreams. So of course she strays from the gathering and falls down the rabbit hole. Once in Wonderland (though we learn it is actually called “Underland”), Alice meets a familiar cast of characters: Tweedledee and Tweedledum (Matt Lucas), the March Hare (Paul Whitehouse), the smoking caterpillar Absalom (Alan Rickman), the Cheshire Cat (Stephen Fry), and the quite insane Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp). Although they all remember her, she has no memory of them. Still, they hope she will take up the cause of championing the White Queen (Anne Hathaway) and defeat the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter).

Sometimes the line between brilliant and bizarre is razor thin. That certainly is the case in Tim Burton’s “reimagining” of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland – personally, the verdict is still out. What I can say for certain is Tim Burton has once again created a very bizarre world that is visually stunning.

JONATHAN'S WORD: Here’s my verdict. This story was most likely written by someone on an acid trip. Add to that Burton’s dark touch and a collection of Hollywood’s most bizarre talent…the film is straight up wacky!

TODD’S WORD: I don’t know. The cast does a decent job. Although, there really aren’t any stand-out performances, including the much-hyped Johnny Depp's turn as the Mad Hatter. Let me be clear…Depp is good…not great.

JONATHAN’S WORD: I think “good” is being nice. Johnny Depp is hit and miss (almost always “miss” when combined with Burton). I can’t say I’ve ever enjoyed Helena Bonham Carter in any role. Crispin Glover hasn’t had a normal role since he played George McFly in Back to the Future. And Anne Hathaway…it’s been a downhill slope since Princess Diaries.

TODD’S WORD: Which leaves us with the story. I thought it started out well – following a “Wizard of Oz” type of story where we begin the journey in the real world and then together entering a colorful, beautiful and bizarre world. But before long it becomes predictable and ultimately falls flat…very flat.

JONATHAN’S WORD: It was boring 3 minutes into “Underland.”

And I didn’t find it surprising to discover that, in its attempt to make it modern, the new 21st century “Alice” demanded control in this dream. “I’m tired of being told what to do. It’s my dream.” Yep. The perfect Gen Y Alice. Me, me, me, me!

TODD’S WORD: Although it was weirder than most films, it wasn’t as weird as I was expecting, and unfortunately it wasn’t as good as I was expecting either…so for me, it’s just a “Rental.”

JONATHAN’S WORD: Save yourself. Skip this boring, dark, weird drug trip.

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
Some images may be too intense or disturbing for younger viewers, but it’s PG rating makes it fine for most kids.

Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):

1. What are some of the messages or themes you observed in this movie?
2. How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
3. How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?